AK '% lendar. § y other § ow the § 1776, OT | years, @ ny Col , Sent VY. @ ER) rey ook of | e hun a ge8s © gs com is true- in al es of pond ) r with les Of § tters every ariety mmar, tions, ress, ica- 1, love , busi § ubli¢ renty” che § ound Hy 7 and ; ach og are” pt tle HAPPY NEW YEAR! READ GRAND OFFER ON EIGHTH PAGE! Ty 7 Wd Ty) YY ) <7] yf Ye aa—_ Sen eee <) SQ S “ad MG SSA SG we : = : Ab )) \ lass et oO ~ KA see CAR rf wn TT AY t TAL? FY Fhe ) ) | \ \ . MED EVERY QUAKES = ‘ \ A > wntered According to act of Congress, in the Year 1896, by Street & Smith, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D.C. e Entered as Second-class Matter at the New York, N.Y., Post-Offce. y . ee Ma steet tet ete tee te teeta e tas atest ea esata sae tat MO Mn eta tee teeter tne teeta s teT ae eet antes net ter tee tata tet at tet Matta eRe ne nen eer aes maar hon te t tat tae atta hae tan tae artes tae antaetasnastagt ear aet nar ternal natal turer ter iat tattastnsnns aanaHngt grag tat igthnt a tai tat tattyitasteera saehashag? RgtighOyrtge tS etys tan "ae We" Vol. 12. un Ramana, New Sork. New York, January 11, 1896. ee tar tee No. 297. (a MIKE GAVE A BACKWARD LEAP, DROPPED HIS STICK, HIS CAP FELL OFF, AND His SCANTY HAIR STOOD ON END. Hil Hy | HHT Ch GAY DASHLEIGH’S ACADEMY DAYS; LIVELY TIMES AT. BBS, PLD. BY ARTHUR SEWALL, CHAPTER I. scarcely a ripple to mar theserenity of their placid lives. FIVE BOYS AND A MULE. The town is small, hardly numbering one Mi N I ! a x = ‘ - 2 a thousand souls; the houses are few, and are F i Saath 4 ESTLED among the wooded hills of | clustered, as usual in such communities, aes pencil ia. Cee n a certain New England State is a] around an open square known as the village \N little village called Milton. It is en-| green. There is a bank, two churches, sev- Gay WwW AS TITT — JERE : : : : SUDDENLY SEIZED BY THE COLLAR AND UNCEREMONIOUSLY JERKED el . tirely unknown to fame, and the/| eral stores and a dozen streets lined with THROUGH THE WINDOW, inhabitants pursue their even way with | dwellings mostly frame. the adornments given the mule by Mother ity. The attire—evidently filched from some GOOD “BICYCLE | every respect. TEXIRTY BICYCLES Given AWAY! To the thirty readers sending us the largest number of these coupons, which will be printed in Goop NEws every. week beginning with No. 296 and ending with No. 307, we will give a high grade bicycle, first-class in Save all the coupons you can get hold of, and send 'them to us in a bunch after No. 307 is published. COUPON. 1 Late one evening in the latter part of Au- gust, when goodly folks were in their beds, there might have been seen near one corner of the green certain mavements very mys- terious and unusual for that hour. ; Some three or four rods back of a corner store stood an old barn, and from one side of this ran @ low stone wall. Along this wall two dark. figures crept, stooping to avoid the bright rays of a full moon which beamed down from directly overhead. ‘ Suddenly a low whistle came from the shadow of the barn, like a preconcerted sig- nal. Down dropped the crawling figures to lie like logs beside the wall. For the mean- ing of the signa! they did not have long to! wait. Creak-creak-creak ! The sound of footsteps upon the board- walk proclaimed the approach of some _ be- lated person. Loucer, louder, louder; creak, creak! They have turned fromthe sidewalk into a path which passes back of the barn and within a short distance, of the rear of a church whose thin spire looms ghostly in the pallid light. Suddenly the footsteps cease, then an emphatic exclamation rings out: ‘Jumping Moses! what’s that?’’ A stifled chuckle comes from the. neigh- borhood of the stone wall, and the two dark figures before mentioned leap over it with great agility. . ‘‘Who’s there?’’ comes a sharp challenge. Half-sappressed laughter from the shadow of the barn. Then a low voice: ‘*Wickity-whack !”? It was a password current among the young rogues of the village. The new-comer respoyded readily with another, which showed him to be one of them. ‘©Whack-whack !”? ‘“‘Gosh! it’s you after all, Gay. We thought it was old Mike making his rounds. Did vou get scared?’’ Four boys surrounded a fifth, who, after scrutinizing their faces, slipped to the edge of the barn, and peered beyond to whefe, standing in a little yard, was a most pecu- liar object. It. was a gaunt, white mule, whose bony frame and long ears were plainly apparent in the clear moonlight. The lad addressed as Gay gave the animal one glance, then he covered his mouth with his oand and quiv- _, ered with suppressed laughter. There was - ample cause for his mirth, In addition to Nature, the young rascals bad added others -of their own ingenious selection. His slim forelegs were pee covered by a pair of ample bloomers, and enveloping his hind quarters was another pair of similar capac- bicycle maid—looked startling upon the an- ecient animal, and from his crestfallen ex- pression, he\strongly disapproved of the costume. ; To add to the mule’s quaint appearance, the boys had tied upon his head a rakish- looking bonnet of fhe vintage of ’61. It occupied the base of one ear, and was fast- ened with a broad bow around his ample neck, | - **What dayyou think of Billy?’’ asked one of the rogues, gleefully. | ty ‘*He is out of sight, Jed. But what does it all mean?’’ ‘*We are going to fe square with Mike, the watchman, for the time he broke up our night hunt. You remember?’’ ‘*T should say I do. And you mean to scare him?”’ ; ‘Out of a year’s growth. He’s joined the spiritualists lately, and maybe he’ll think old Billy is a departed shade.’’ _ ¥es—of his grandmother. But, say, one of you boys run and get that pot of black paint we saw in Perkins’ woodshed. I’ll add a few touches to Billy’s make-up, ~ Quick, now.’’ From the way three of his companions | scurried off it was evident Gay Dashleigh | _ was aleader among his friends. His per- | sonal Beeson certainly warranted such) a position. ; _ Sixteen years old, hardy, athletic, with a, -_quick, shrewd wit of his own; the best | swimmer, runner, skater, and wrestler of his age and weight in the district, good- looking, and aware of it, Gay Dashleigh aor fitted to excel in whatever he under- took, He was generous toa fault, kind to all, | - but stern and unyielding when need be. He _ had a will, too, which promised trouble at ' times, but his native good sense generally came to the front in season to prevent evil results. Gay’s home was at the other end of Mil- ton, but on this eveniug he had been on an errand to the village miller’s house down on the creek. It had kept him until late, and, returning by a short cut, he had fallen in with the mischievous crew and their decor- ated mule. Gay was true to his name—every ready for sport. \The chance of getting even with Mike—hated of the village boys—was too strong a temptation to be resisted, and, in- stead of returning home, he remained to as- sist in the enemy’s discomfiture. The finger of fate had directed him along the path near the village green that night, And from his innocent participation in his friend’s fun were to spring consequences destined to change the whole tenor of his life. In this old world of ours little events mark the turning points of our careers. Gay’s companions soon returned with the paint pot and brush. Taking thé articles he edged toward the gaunt white mule. Billy’s ears moved, and he regarded the lad with evident suspicion. His reputation as a high- kicker caused Gay to proceed cautiously. ‘‘Whoa, Billy! That’s a good fellow, Whoa, whoa, will you? There’s a patch of green turnips beyond the creek, and we'll take you there after we fix Old Mike. Whoa, now !?? The soothing effects of his familiar voice, and te the promise, caused Billy to stand quietly while Gay commenced _his ar- tistic work. His brush moved rapidly, and within a very few moments the mule had taken of the appearance of a giant zebra. Alternating stripes of black and white cov- ered his body with the aeeeres of an ob- long space over his ribs. There Gay had painted in straggling letters the legend: ' “PNEUMATIC TIRED.’’ ‘‘That means he is winded, don’t you see?’’? he explained, whimsically, stepping back a few paces to admire his work. Fatal movement. ‘ Billy—usually most gentle of mules—had stood the tickling of the brush long enough. Energy flew to his heels, and he suddenly ee those members with disastrous re- sults. One hoof grazed Gay’s shoulder, and the other struck the half-filled paint pot. It was instantly knocked from his grasp, and the contents sent in a spattering stream over one of the boys, who had taken his stand just behind in fair distance. Gasping and sputtering, he retreated with backward hops, leaving Billy waving his Jong ears in undoubted enjoyment of the situation. The spectacle presented by the lad would have wrung laughter from an owl. The thick, black paint had transferred his clothing into a suit of motley, and his face into dusky smears, ~ Gay and the other boys roared with laugh- ter,,and Billy looked back with what was remarkably like a mulish grin, Suddenly the bespattered victim uttered a howl of anger, and snatched up a piece of heavy scantling from the ground. “*7)) fix i for that, you beast!’ he ex- claimed, advancing upon the mule. He raised the timber, but before it could descend upon Billy’s back, his arm was grasped from behind. CHAPTER II. THE BROKEN DIME. / ‘ \ -£;, ROP that, Munson Ferris,’ said a Ts) stern voice. ‘*You cannot strike ¢ Billy simply because you happened “F— to get the worse of your little joke.’’ ‘‘Let go of my arm, Gay Dashleigh,”’ almost screamed.the infuriated boy. ‘‘Let go, or I’ll hit yon, too.”? \ The words had scarcely left his lips when he found himself staggering back.. The scantling fell to the ground with a crash. When Munson recovered himself he found Gay standing on the defensive, ‘*You will strike me also, eh?’? quietly asked the latter. ‘‘Suppose you try it. Bet- ter proceed before you change your mind. Only a coward would strike a dumb brute like Billy, and T guess the name about fits you, Despite the- provocation of these strong words, Munson Ferris made no attempt to carry out his threat. Wiping his begrimed face with a tuft of grass, he sullenly edged - the lower windows was partly NEWS. away until he had reached the street; then he cast a malignant glance behind him, and quickly disappeared beyond the church. ‘*Good riddance,’’? remarked Gay, con- temptuously. ‘‘Come, boys, let’s get old Billy out in the green where Mike will stum- ble across him,’’ | “‘T guess Munson’ll try to get square with | you some way.”’ ‘*He can do as he pleases, Jed,’’ replied | Gay. ‘‘He’sa coward. Heis as big as I am, and——’’ } The distant thump, of a stick upon a brick | pavement came from an adjacent street. ‘*It’s old Mike!’ cried one of the boys, | excitedly. ‘‘Quick! bring him out.”’ | Gay, caught the end of arope bridle at- | tached to the mule’s head, and attempted to drag him from the yard. Billy was not a very satisfactory beast to lead. He had a way, when pulled uncommonly hard, of stopping short, throwing up his head, and uttering a groan. At the same time he opened his grinning jaws as if, like Balaam’s beast of old, he bad intended to speak, and unburden his mind of something mighty disagreeable. After one such groan, imexpressibly long and dismal, having no breath left for the distressing remark he seemed about to make, the poor brute concluded to yield to: per- suasion. With a yaw and a lurch, like the final efforts of a sinking ship, he followed Gay into the green. The strange cavalcade had barely reached the edge of the village square when the tramp of heavy boots sounded near by. It heralded the approach of Mike, the watch- man. Gay and his companions abandoned Billy to his fate, and scurried back to shel- ter behind the corner store, from where they could see the resulting events. The footsteps approached nearer, and | presently the burly figure of the watchman | came into view. Hestepped out upon the | green, glanced down one way, then turned : slowly until his eyes fell upon Billy’s gro- tesque figure. s At that moment the mule concluded it was time to utter his long deferred protest. | Throwing back his head, he launched forth | into a mighty ‘‘ fe—haw—e—e—e! Haw! haw! He— haw—he!”’ The effect upon Mike satisfied even Gay’s | anticipations. The watchman gave a back- | ward leap, dropped his stick, his cap fell | off, his scanty hair stood on end, and with a shrill cry of terror he darted across the green as if ten thousand devils were at his heels. The scene was too much for the boys. Shouting with laughter, they left their hid- ing-place, and surrounded Billy. The sus- picious sounds of merriment reached Mike’s ears, and he suddenly halted. ‘Scatter, boys!’’ exclaimed Gay. ‘‘Scoot for home, or he’ll catch us.”’ With one accord they fled down the near- est street, each aiming for his own part of the village. Gay’s route carried him back of the church and parallel to one edge of the green. | He ran 4 block, then he slackened his pace, .and walked rapidly through a narrow alley back of a row of business houses. While passing a brick structure occupied by the Milton National Bank, he was startled | by the sound of a muffled explosion. An eager glance along the rear of the bank revealed an important fact. One of open, and two of the iron bars extending from top to bottom were twisted aside. The meaning was plain. ‘‘Jumping Moses! some one’s robbing the bank !’’ gasped Gay, hoarsely. A faint clicking noise came to his ears from inside, then a crunching of footsteps upon the light gravel of the alley proclaimed the approach of a possible confederate. 4 Gay crouched down in the shadows and waited breathlessly. A heavy-set man, with a coarse, ugly face, turned the corner of the alley, and glanced about him in evident suspicion. He carried in his right band a heavy club, and in his left gleamed the pol- ished barrel of a revolver. After waiting a moment he gave a low whistle. A head wasinstantly thrust through the’ open window of the bank. Gay saw that the face was covered with a cloth mask. ‘“‘What is the matter, Steve?’’ hurriedly asked the man inside. ‘Thought I heard a noise out here, cap,’’ growled the lookout. ‘‘ Better hurry the job, as these here jays may git upto milk their Ee time.’’ ‘‘No fear,’’ replied the other, with a laugh. ‘‘We have hours before us yet. Keep your eyes peeled; we’ll have the box open in a few moments.’’ Steve grumbled beneath his breath, and then slouched from sight around the corner. The man in the mask disappeared, and again the faint clicking became apparent. In the meantime Gay’s brain had been working rapidly, and he had formed a rather startling determination. He was,ab- solutely without fear, and he felt an over- powering desire to watch the burglars at work. He knew that it was his duty to give an immediate alarm, but the curiosity to see the miscreants in the midst of their task was too strong to be resisted. : : ‘‘Just one look, and then I’ll hunt up Mike and have them captured,’’? he mur- mured. Slipping off his shoes, he crept to. the win- dow. The sill was within easy reach, Grasp- ing a couple of bars he pulled himself up, until his head was on a level with the opening. Before he could secure more than one brief glimpse of the interior, he was suddenly seized by the collar and uncere- moniously jerked through the window. Gay opened his mouth to give an alarm, but ere he could form a sound he felt a stunning blow upon the head; then he lost consciousness. * * * * * * ‘*Who is it, Cap?’’ ‘‘Some young fool with more curiosity than is good for him. It is lucky I chanced to return to the window to call Steve. Hurry with the job, boys. Wrench that bolt — off with the jimmy and put in another small charge of the stuff.’’ The chief of the gang of. burglars at work on the safe of the Milton Bank saw his two confederates start to obey his orders, then he turned his dark lantern upon the motion- 7 ess figure of the Jad struck down at the win- ~ dow. The ray of light fell upon the upturned face, revealing a dark stain of. blood at the lower edge of the curly hair; then the light slowly traveled down past the iously shaped pin. It was evidently the half — of a broken silver dime. The effect of this simple ornament upon | the burglar was startling in the extreme. He gave a gasp of excitement, and fell upon” 7 his knees at Gay’s side, Drawing out the © pin with trembling fingers, he closely scru- 7 The | dime had been broken squarely across be- tinized it with the aid of the lantern. tween the figures of the date, leaving the num bers—74. ; ‘‘Tt is the same! At last! at last!’’? mur- mured the man, hoarsely. ‘ a Snatching his watch from his pocket, he | opened the rear lid, revealing something ~ It wasthe — half of a broken dime, and bore at the lower fastened to the inner partition. edge of the fracture the figures 18—. Restor- ing the watch to his pocket, the burglar 4 hastily fastened the pin in the lad’s cravat, then he felt his pulse. ‘“‘Thank God I did not strike harder!”’ he muttered, with an expression of radiant joy. ‘‘Heis simply stunned, and will soen recover, We must get out of this. At last 1 — have found him.’’ Hastily rising to his feet, he stepped be- a yond the safe and peremptorily bade his confederates cease. prise. ‘*Come, out of here!’ ‘‘What’s the row, Cap? was the fierce rejoinder. ‘‘We will give uP this job. Out with you!’’ j Exchanging sullen glances the two ruffians reluctantly picked up their tools and pre- pared to leave the bank, As they passed the a prostrate form of the lad one of them gave him a vicious kick in the side. The chief saw the cowardly action and he turned savagely upon the perpetrator. There was a quick movement of his arm, the sharp thud of a blow, and the fellow 'tumbled backward against the iron safe. For one brief moment the chief stoodsover him with hand poised for another stroke, dow. : The fallen burglar scrambled to his feet, and slowly followed his mate into the alley, With another glance at Gay “ying still a2 aM motionless upon the floor, the chief dis@P- peared after his confederates. le CHAPTER III. THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER. of returning consciousness. ” moaned feebly, and tossed 4 © “3° upon the carpeted floor ; } then he raised his hands to his aching hee and finally sat bolt upright. The interi0! hid the bank was dark, and at first the lad 4 not realize his situation. He knew that he was not at home, + ab senses were so dulled by the blow tha a took him some time to remember the ene of the night. Slowly, little by little, haven memory came back to him, The deco! ae of Billy the mule, the laughable advent with Mike, the passage through the at!’ and then—— a Ss. Sheree ‘The bank! Burglars are robbing bank!’? he cried, bounding to his feet... He stumbled over a chair, and fell age) the cold, iron side of the safe. The rouds. previously hidden behind a_ mass of | ¢ opel suddenly reappeared, and he saw the hing window in the rear of the room. gt the toward it he started to lower himsell Peet ground. He was in the act of dropping me the alley when a startled exclamation Mike. to his ears. Turning his head he ede pre: the village watchman, staring at him ae +ha | found amazement from the corner 0°” rat k, Mik ive, the alarm’, oe ter ‘Quick, Mike, - give sia S claimed Gay. ‘‘The bank has been robbe¢ aes As he touched the gravel a heavy was laid upon his shoulder. collar to © where gleaming in the necktie wasa cur- ~ 0 x They looked up in sur-. — ‘ oy » hae We an’t done | yet.”? tg ‘‘We must leave this bank at once, I say,’” = then he lowered it and pointed to the win ‘ N hour later Gay began to show signs vi pout « | for a while, | but bis a cory and rest justi Ga prise ae J be ¢ of sé con 7 taki wor. Gay ban! upo! will “4 CCoDp NEwsS. 4739 mur- © ‘‘The bank has been robbed, hasit? Faith, | “Certainly, sir; step right in,’’ replied | mained silent. He sat with head bent and { talked with the lookout. They are both burg- ; and it looks like it, ye young rascal. I ar-| Mr. Dashleigh, hospitably. eyes directed tothe floor. Finally he was/lars, and I must have them arrested at © win- = rest ye for the deed. Come wid me to the) As the stranger entered Gay rose from | aroused by Mr. Dashleigh, who said, search- | once.’ Grasp- justice.’’ | his seat and regarded him curiously. Where | ingly: | He paused in perplexity. He could not if up, Gay stared at the watchman in angry sur- | had he hear that voice? The deep, emphatic; ‘‘Are you his father?’’ Before the visitor | capture them single-handed, and if he re- hh the prise. | tones certainly sounded familiar. | could reply, he added, convincingly: ‘‘I feel | turned to town for assistance they would 8 than ‘¢ Arrest me for the burglary? You must| He racked his memory, but for a moment | that you are. I hope you area good man, |} escape in the meantime. Suddenly a rumble @ was be crazy.’ | he could not place the new-comer. }and that you are as faithful and honest as/| of wheels sounded upon the bridge, and a ncere- ‘*We’ll see whether Iam or not, ye limb! The carpenter escorted his visitor into the | Gay.”’ |farm wagon containing several men came : of satan. Come wid me peaceably, or I’ll be! parlor, and asked him te be seated. | Instead of appearing offended at this | into view. larm, compelled to useforce. Fancy the very kids| ‘‘Now, sir, what can I do for you?’’? he} pointed remark, the stranger actually| Leaving his hiding-place, Gay hurriedly felt a. J _ taking to robbing banks! What is this | said, little dreaming of the terrible shock he | winced. His face fell, and he avoided Mr. | acquainted the new-comers with the state of > lost — world coming to, I wonder?’’ | was to receive. Dashleigh’s gaze. |affairs, and a moment later the wagon was ‘“—} #‘‘Mike, you must be fooling,’’ replied | ‘*T am here in reference to the youth you; ‘‘I do not intend to take him from you | tearing down the road in hot pursuit. . -} Gay, incredulously. ‘‘I did not rob the} call your son,’’? announced the stranger, | yet, my friend,’’ he said, confusedly. ‘‘The | (T0 BE CONTINUED.) age ‘} bank, but I saw the burglars. If you insist | calmly. | academy idea is excellent. Send him there | Sopot 4. Aw j losity | upon taking me before Judge Hawes you Mr. Dashleigh gave a start. lat once. Here are ample funds for his tui- | Oe oor anced _ will lose valuable time. The burglars will) ‘The youth I call my son?’’ he stam-| tion and expenses. Give him plenty of | A RECKLESS RIDE steve. % make their escape. Run to the church and/ mered. spending money, too. You will find one : t bolt — ring the alarm bell, or let me do it.”’ | ‘*Yes. Heis known as Gay Dashleigh. | thousand dollars in this pocket-book. I will} or Tat small = The hand upon his shoulder tightened, | That is not his name, nor is he a child of send more within the year.’’ BY VICTOR ST. CLAIR. and he was forced toward:the street. | yours. I know that he was brought to you; ‘‘Do you wish me to tell Gay?”’’ asked the peste aioe work 4 ‘“Ye can’t bamboozle me like that, me} over fifteen years ago.’’ carpenter, wistfully. | aes s two “WR boy,’’ said Mike, doggedly. ‘‘I caught ye} ‘‘What do you mean, sir?’’ ‘‘Nos by any means. Let him remain as; \[, J OLD on!”’ cried our host, as half a then - coming from the bank, and it’sproof enough| ‘Just what I say. Now, Mr. Dashleigh, | he is until I give the word.”’ i= dozen of us cyclists were whiling tion- that ye was inside for no good. Come along} there isn’t the least use of your denying Slipping to the door leading into the din-| ¢L, away an evening in story-telling; win- © now.?? |facts. I have undoubted proof that the lad | ing-room, he opened it slightly and peered| > ‘‘if you aren’t too sleepy, boys, | aa Gay saw that he could no more reason in the next room is not your son. I see} through. His face softened, and drops of will tell you of a little experience I had in irned ' with the man than with a wooden image, | plainly that you have grown to love him, | moisture dimmed his eyes. Returning he} my younger days which your stories have t the _ so he submitted with the best grace possible. | and that you will be very sorry to part with | bowed, and slipped from the house by way | recalled to mind. light _ He knew that it would be an easy matter to| Gay, but you have had him fifteen years, | of the front entrance, leaving Mr. Dash- | ‘‘It isn’t much of a story,’’? he com- r to 4 _ clear himself from such an absurd accusa- and there are others with a better claim to|leigh with the painful feeling of one who} menced, ‘‘but it was a little adventure I cur- @ tion, but he regretted the loss of valuable; him.’’ had suffered a great loss. After composing | shall never forget. half “@ time. | ‘The carpenter moistened his parched lips | himself, he rejoined his wife and Gay, who| ‘* You see, we had not dreamed of such _@ “I will go with you, Mike, but I warn| with his tongue. The blow had fallen at| were awaiting him with considerable curi-|coutrivances as you are riding over the 1pon you that you will have to answer to Judge/ last. The secret—kept so closely—was dis- | osity. ‘country on when I was a boy, and 1 sup- ome. WF Hawes for the loss of the bank’s money. | covered. The child, brought up asason and! The latter’s was destined to remain un-| pose you will laugh at me for assuming to 1pon”— sSWhile you are taking me to his house the/| loved so much by himself and his wife, was | gratified for a time. Mr. Dashleigh bade | associate even in imagination your prized the _ ‘®@ ‘real robbers will have ample time to leave | to be taken from them ih the declining days | him run down to the main street, and see if , bicycles to a pair of trucks, cru" ae town.” .| of their life. But he would not part with Gay | anything had been heard of the burglars. | ‘*l hardly think you have forgotten the The : % The watchman maintained a grim silence. without a struggle. “Return within an hour, as I have some- | pleasure you used to experience in coasting. be- a _ It was evident he thought a supposed robber} ‘‘I don’t know what you mean,"’ he said, | thing of importance to tell you,’’ he added, | L haven’t forgotten mine. I hope I sha’n’t. the _ in the hand was worth any number at large. | trying to disguise the tremor in his voice. | with a troubled tone in his voice. = | ‘*Father lived at the north part of the @ A prolonged ringing at the judge’s door|‘*You say you have proofs that he isnot my| Gay obeyed, leaving the carpenter and his State when I was in my teens. It was a aur-" @ brought a night capped head in evidence at} son, I——”’ good wife to hold the most momentous and | billy region, you may well imagine. aay 2 one of the upper windows. \ + "TI see you are obstinate,’’ replied his visi- On being told by Mike of the important | tor, not unkindly. ‘‘I will prove to you distressing conference of their placid exist-| ‘‘Our house stood on a_hillside—mountain ence. After talking over the matter they | I suppose you would call it, for the road - capture he had made, the lawyer hastened | to admit them. He was a kindly disposed — Man, and eyed Gay with much sorrow. _ However, that youth had no intention of - vemaining silent under the charge. -. ‘It is alla mistake, sir,’’ he exclaimed, @vents of the evening with such eloquence that the shrewd lawyer speedily realized that he was telling the truth. **Mike, you are a fool!’’ he exclaimed, | . turning upon the astounded watchman. | “Get out of here and rouse the constable at nee Dashleigh, I want you to carry some _ telegrams to the operator at the railway Station. house, and tell him to guard the bank at ~ once,?? Ten minutes later Gay was speeding away 9n his errand. Telegrams were sent to neigh- Oring towns with instructions to arrest all _ SuUSpicious strangers. The bank officials _ Madé an immediate examination of the _ Safe, and found, to their surprise and joy, that it was still intact. Not a dollar was Missing, _, This fortunate result was laid to Gay’s {2oer, and he became the hero of the hour. “otiwithstanding the time of day, the news Spread like wildfire, and the green was soon ©0vered with knots of villagers discussing he affair. f 3 Old Billy was discovered placidly crop- bg the grass in a vacant lot, and his gro- 7. due attire added a tinge of fun to the ex- ement. By unanimous vote of the trus- the’ Mike was summarily discharged from the post of watchman, to the great joy of _ “18 young rogues of Milton. hi hortly after daybreak Gay went home to menkfast. Mr. Dashleigh, a pleasant-faced “ag of fifty, whose duties as principal vil- in. Carpenter made him a prominent per- “ane in the community, was rather in- “hed to blame Gay for his escapade at first, iio" have had a narrow escape from in- ithe he said, examining the wound upon bei ad’s head, ‘‘and it should teach you to ig OMB your proper place at 1 ight.”’ + win Ut, father, if you had seen old . Billy too 1b oomers on, you would have stayed, in the laughed Gay. ‘‘Mike jumped ten feet air if he did an inch. And how he 2 Bi across the green !’’ his” merriment was infectious, and both heary rents joined in the laughter. None Presents knock at the outer door, and it fhrust thr Keen ey g a Fs > Me eagerly.” ‘‘Mike insisted on arresting me P+ 9 ~—SO wen he should have given the alarni and ant —@® had the real burglars followed.’ | nt - ‘“‘T saw ye coming through the rear win- t #® 8 6dow of the bank wid dese two eyes,’’ | b #@ ~~ growled the watchman. his @ =e “‘Siit down here and explain matters with ue as little delay as possible,’’? said Judge OF ‘Hawes. ; 4 _ Gay instantly obeyed. He related the opened slightly. A face was ough the opening, and a pair of Testing Watched the group at the table, The particularly upon Gay. | Was tat°? Was that of a man of forty. “musts ne and resolute, and an iron-gray, : ef Shaded the firm mouth. It pres- at ae ma a ante rap eannes ; - Mr. Dashlei answered the meee at.once. - Ou are Mr. Dashlei cr ettpenter nodded politely. h you like a few moments’ conversation 3 Upon a subject of importance.’’ ey \ gh, are you not?’’ Ou your way stop at the cashier's | It | that lam right. The lad wears a curious pin. Itis the half of a brokendime. Look at this,’’ He produced his watch, and opened the case, exposing to view the half coin fastened to the inner partition. ‘‘This is part of a ten-cent piece minted in 1874,’? he explained. ‘‘It is the year in which Gay was born, At the age of five months he was lost, and daily, hourly, since that time fifteen long yearsago, he has been searched for throughout the length aad breadth of this land. He is found at last.’’ ‘* Are you his father?’’ tremblingly asked Mr. Dashleigh, breaking down. The stranger frowned. ‘‘That is neither bere nor there,’’ he re- plied, peremptorily. ‘‘I have furnished sat- isfactory proof that I know all about him, and that should be enough. Tell me how he came to you.’’ ‘*But you will not take him away just yet,’’ persisted the carpenter, pleadingly. ‘‘He must go to school. If there is an academy .in the neighborhood where he can acquire a thorough education——”’ ‘*There is one at Ebb Tide, thirty miles from here,’’? eagerly~ interrupted his ccm- panion. ‘‘Gay can be sent there if——’’ ‘¢] will furnish the necessary money. But he must be entered at once. Now tell me how he came to you.’’ “It was fifteen years ago last month,’’ began Mr. Dashleigh, in a low voice.' ‘‘I was out in the yard attending to something near the gate. It was almost dark, and the shadows were thickening in the orchard across the lane. Chancing to look down the road—we are on the outskirts of town, you know—I saw a large Newfoundland dog coming from the direction of the creek. As he drew nearer I noticed that he carried a wicker basket in his mouth. ‘‘His actions indicated that he was thor- oughly tired out. He staggered along until he reached the gate, then he carefully de- posited the basket in the road, and stretched himself in the dust. He looked at me with a pleading expression almost human in its intensity. ‘(Thinking he needed food and water, I opened the gate to admit him. At that mo- ment something stirred in the basket, and I heard the wail of an infant. You can im- agine my surprise. I picked up the novel cradle, and, removing the lid, saw a child of probably five or six months snuggled at the bottom.’’ Mr. Dashleigh was interrupted by a sud- den movement on the part of his visitor. The latter had risen to his feet. His face wore an expression of troubled amazement. ‘Do you.mean to tell me the baby was brought to you in that remarkable manner?’’ he asked, incredulously. ‘That is what I said.’’ “Strange, strange. I hardly understand how—but goon with your story, my friend.’’ ‘‘We had moved to Milton that very ‘morning. My wife had remained in our pre- vious home to settle up certain affairs, and she did not reach this house until an hour before I found the baby in the basket. I took the child to her at once, and we re- solved to adopt it as our own, leaving the neighbors to think that he was really ‘ours. I returned to the road with food and water for the dog, but I was unfortunately too late. He had died where he had halted.’’ For full twenty minutes the stranger re- sorrowfully concluded that the demands of the mysterious stranger must be obeyed. ‘‘Tt will assure Gay a good education, anyway,’’ said the weeping wife. ‘‘And he will be near us. We canrun down to Ebb Tide every week to see him. I have been dreaming of this blow for years. It has fallen }at last. My poor Gay!’’ ‘*We must not say that,’’ gently replied |her husband. ‘‘Probably it is all for the | best. The gentleman seems to be wealthy— | see this pocket-book—and it assures a future |for Gay. Wonderful are the ways of Provi- | dence! He must have seen that pin in Gay's tie by a mere accident.” claimed Mrs. Dashleigh, tearfully. When Gay returned from the green he was told to sit down and compose himself for great news, ‘‘Something has happened to-day which places it in our power to ek a strong ambition of yours,’? announced Mr. Dash- leigh. ‘‘We intend to send you to Ebb Tide Military Academy at once. You——’’ He never finished the sentence. Gay ut- tered a whoop of joy, and hurriedly em- braced the carpenter and his wife. Then he danced about the room like one possessed. ‘“You intend to send me to Ebb Tide Academy?’’ he exclaimed, almost crying in his excitement. ‘‘Ah, dad, you are not jok- ing, are you?’ He read conviction in Mr. Dashleigh’s face, and without another word he turned the road in the direction of the creek. ‘‘He is going to tell Bessie Winsome,”’ sighed Mrs. Dashleigh. Which was really the secret of Gay’s ab- rupt departure from the house. Reaching the creek, he slipped down past the bridge, and, finding’a placid pool under the struc- ture, began to adjust his necktie and smooth his hair. During this impromptu toilet his face red- dened, and he started guiltily at every sound. When he finally mounted the road- way of the bridge it was observed that his speed had slackened perceptibly. Neither had he the confident bearing characteristic of him. ‘“‘Goirg to Ebb Tide,’’ he murmured. ‘‘Jumping Moses! it’s almost too good to ba true. I wonder where dad got the money? That stranger must have had something to do with it. .Where have I heard his voice before? It was certainly——”’ He abruptly ceased speaking, and stared excitedly ata couple of men pacing along the road in front of him. They had turned into the thoroughfare from a connecting lane, and were within a hundred yards of him. One was the stranger who had called upon Mr. Dashleigh that morning, and the other fellow Gay had seen acting as lookout in the alley during the attenspbed robbery of the Milton bank. At first the lad could hardly believe his eyes, then, as he hurried forward and caught a side view of the man’s face, he felt con- vinced. Fortunately they had not seen him, Dropping behind a bush, he mapped outa plan of action. ‘*Jumping Moses! I remember now!’’ he exclaimed, slapping‘his knee. ‘‘No wonder that tall man’s voice was familiar. It was he who leaned from the bank window and ‘¢‘T wish now I had thrown it away when | we found it among the baby clothes,’ ex- | and hurried from the house. Glancing from | the window, they saw him speeding down | | that wound up the ascent was a continual | rise for at least half a mile. — ‘‘There were only two places, however, | where it was very steep, and one of these } was above our house, which was about half- way to the top, and the other below. ‘*As you may well understand, it was a | capital place for coasting—sliding we used to call it, and I rather like that better. : | «When we wanted a good long ride ata | flying rate we used to go to the summit above the house and thus get the benefit of the entire descent. | **As we used to get such an impetus by | the time we got to the house that we would shoot by like a flash, mother, who was some. what timid, wouldn’t let us go to the top of | the hill as much as we wanted to. ‘*‘] remember at one time we had an aunt | who had come to see us, and, of course, we . boys wanted to show her what fun we had | coasting, so we coaxed mother to let us go |up the road and slide down past the house. © | ‘The girls\ wanted to go, too, so we | marched up the hill in high glee. There | were five of us—three girls and two boys. |» **The road was well trodden, and it was | | thawing just enough for the sleds to run | well. By the way, our sled was a heavy, | clumsy-looking affair, but it was shod with / the best of straight-grained walnut, which | was as smooth as glass. 1t was amply large | to hold us all. » ‘*Despite mother’s warning not to ascend the steepest part of the hill, we kept on to the very summit. We wanted to gain as great speed as possible before reaching the house so as to dart by at a rate surprising ito Aunt Sally. ‘*Well, the longest journey must have an end, and at last we were at the top of the hill, to quickly take our positions upon the sled. . ‘*T was to steer, so. I took a seat in front. and away we shot, soon gaining an impetus that sent us on our way at a flying rate. ‘*The air was keen and bracing, and we were in good spirits, laughing and shouting until the steeper descent was reached, when our swifter flight fairly took away our breath. ‘“‘It wasn’t long before we came in sight of our home, and I was thinking how we — should frighten Aunt Sally with our head- — long speed, when, tomy dismay, I saw an object in the road just below.the house. ‘) EDITED BY ARTHUR J. A. 8., Jackson, Tenn., writes: “‘I wish you would answer me a question in your Goop NEWS in thecolumn headed ‘Short ‘'alks with the Boys.’ 1, Where is the United States Naval School? 2. Under what conditions can |} youenter, and at what age? Please give me } the address of the United States Naval Col- | tege.” The United States Naval Academy is situ- | ated at Annapolis, Md. Itis the school at | which are trained our naval ofticers, and it | is one of the best of its class in the world. It would take more space than I have at my disposal to state in detail the conditions surrounding the entrance of a candidate, and | advise you to read the able article on the subject published in No, 220 of Goop News. Candidates to the academy are ap- pointed by the Congressmen, one from each district. They are required to have a thor- ough common-schoo] education, and to be absolutely perfect physically. The term of service is now four years, part of which is spent at sea. The pay of a naval cadet is $608, including rations. The course of study is very severe, and a lad needs to be well-grounded to pass even the preliminary examination. L.. P., Attica, Ind., writes: ‘As TI chanced to look over one of your November numbers of the GooD News, of which [ am a constant reader, } my eye fell upon a letter (which you had in- | serted in your ‘Short Talks with the Boys’), |} written by a Cleveland "musician inquiring jabout army bands. Seeing that he aequired | the desired information, | thought I would The instru- prefer is the clarionet, although I can | play several others, 1. What are the lowest and highest wages the clarionet player would command in the standing army? 2 Are there any physical, mental, oranoral examinations to go through before obtaining a position? If so, what are they? 8. [Is there any limit as to age and size? 4. Are there chances of promotions of any kind? 5, If aperson enlists how long is he required to serve? 6. Where is the most convenient place for me to apply? 7 Who wonld I apply to? 8 What prohibitions are there in a man’s character and habits? 9. What part of the United States would | most likely be sent to? 10. What doyou think of the mu- sician’s trade in general ?’ As stated previously in this department, United States Army bands are attached to each of the many regiments of cavalry and infantry stationed throughout the country. The pay is fair, the rations good, and the work easy. Eacb band is composed of from twelve to twenty-five members, under charge of a leader. The duties of a band are to play daily at guard-mount and battalion drill, and to give concerts during the long summer evenings. The pay of a clarionet player twenty dollars a month. Applicants for appointments to the var- ious bands are required to undergo a strict physical examination, to satisfy the recruit- ing officer of their mental capacity, and to furnish good references as to moral char- acter, etc. The age of the applicant must not be under twenty-one, nor exceed thirty-five. The chances for promotion are scant. The bands are generally divided into three classes of players, with a corresponding difference of salary. The band leader natur- ally receives a large sum, and is classed as a senior non-commissioned officer. Sousa, the well-known composer, was formerly the leader of the Marine Band, ‘the official band of the United States Marine Corps. The term of enlistment is three years. You will find regiments stationed at Chicago, Iil., and at Columbus, Ohio, either of which should be convenient for you. Apply to the adjutant of the regiment. If appointed to the band stationed near Chi- cago, you would be retained there. If you apply to the recruiting rendezvous at Co- lumnbus, you would be sent to any band needing a musician. . In answer to your last question, I wish to say that the profession of music is in no im- mediate danger of languishing. The onward march of civilization, rather increases the desire for music, but, it is well to say, the progress of time also elevates'the quality, A good musician will never find his talent unsought for, : | is about LINN OsBporNe, Mt. Vernon, Tl, writes? ‘Will you please give a brief description of the mannerin which the eyesigit is tested on en- tering West Point, the studies in which one is examined, and also the method they use in examination ?” The method employed by the surgeons at the West Point Military Academy in the testing of the eye-sight of candidates is sim- ilar to that used by oculists throughout the country. Cards bearing printed and gradu- ated letters are placed a certain distance from the candidate. Each eye is covered in turn, and the letters read aloud, Tests for blurred vision and for color-blindness are tell you that ina while all the fish in the river will come under here to take shelter from the rain, and then I’Jl make a haul.’’ also used. In the latter case, the candidate is compelled to select colored skeins of yarn from a basketful of various hues. The ex- amination is severe, and defective eye-sight quickly discovered. A full description of the studies and the method of examination for candidates at West Point would require too much space in this department. I will give you a few brief details, but it will be well for you to read Lieutenant Lounsberry’s thorough article on the West Point Military Academy in No. 219 of Goop News. The examinations are both written and oral, and include questions in reading, writ- ing and orthography; in general mathemat- ics, grammar, geography, especially of the United States, history, principally of our own country, and leading questions for the purpose of gaining an insight into the can- didate’s mental caliber. The examinations last five or six days, and were formerly held at West Point. But, under a new order of the War Department, they are now held simultaneously in all the large cities of the United States. You can learn the date of the next exam- ination by writing to the Secretary of War, Washington, D. C., or by applying to the Congressman of your district. SpeciAL Notick.—Many communications, improperly addressed to this department, are answered in the ‘‘ Mail Bag.”’ <9 eee ow Zo Bo Tunes. sill Gi EDITED BY DAVID PARKS. + TRICKS WITH CONS. oa HERE are a number of coin tricks, out { e of which you may obtain considerable ‘4 amusement. CH, A year or two ago, when the thought-reading craze was _ fashionable, some one devised an amusing trick, which, by sheer audacity, ‘‘took in’’ many observ ers of the new art. The ‘‘thought reader’’ undertakes to distinguish bliudfold among a bowlful of coins one which has been added to it by a member of the company. Perform the trick thus: Fetch in a basinful of pen- nies, which you have allowed to stand for an hour in the open air, or in some cool pantry, so as to get cold. Blindfold, present the bowl toa gentleman in the room, and ask him to drop a penny in. Shake the bow] up, and talk some nonsense about the coin being imbued with the ‘‘magnetism’’ of its possessor, and finally, feel among the coins for the warm one. It is best to let a gentle- man furnish the coin, as a man generally keeps money in his trousers’ pocket, loose, so that it has better chances of getting warm than in a lady’s purse. The ease with which a coin can be made to move by a current of air is greater than most people suppose. If you lay a penny on a polished table, and, holding a book behind to keep the air in, blow smartly on the ta- ble, the penny will jump and dance about. But a more remarkable experiment may be made with a small bottomed wineglass, thus: Put a dime in the glass, and over it a half-dollar, or some coin large enough to be held by the side of the glass so as not to fall on the smaller coin. Blow sharply on the edge of the upper coin, and it will be easy to blow the dime clean out of the glass, The polished sides of the glass, with their steep curves, produce a brisk upward cur- rent of air, and the resistance to the ascent of the coin is but small. The converse of this, showing how diffi- cult it is to move a coin when it has some- thing soft to cling to, is seen in the follow- ing trick: Lay a penny on the palm of the hand, and, presenting a clothes-brush toa boy in the company, offer him the coin if he can brush it off your hand. The coin is perfectly safe, but it must of course be a condition that there shall be no jerking or knocking of the hand. The brush must be used perfectly flat and evenly. Another trick, which a boy may safely try on even a fairly strong adult, isto holda quarter between the tips of the two middle fingers, held across the chest, and invite any person to obtain possession of it by standing directly in front of you and pulling the wrists so as to separate the fingers. For rea- sons connected with the anatomy mechanics of the arms, this cannot be done. Here again jerking is barred. A similar trick is thus: Stand with the middle finger of each hand resting on the point of the shoulder, just where the collar- bone meets the joint. Invite some one to raise the fingers from this position by hold- ing your wrists. Only the very slightest effort is required to resist this. Both parties must be standing, and it is, of course, to be understood that you cannot do the trick with any one who happens to be very much taller than yourself, as his superior height will give him an undue advantage. If you make him sit down, however, it is